MySQL UNION query separation
yes you can add another field to select , that you can recognise like (1,2)
$this->db->query(' SELECT 1 as table_id,DISTINCT users.user_pic, users.id, users.username, contacts.accepted FROM users LEFT JOIN contacts ON users.id = contacts.user_1 WHERE contacts.user_2 = ' . $this->session->userdata('user_id') . ' UNION DISTINCT SELECT 2 as table_id,DISTINCT users.user_pic, users.id, users.username, contacts.accepted FROM users LEFT JOIN contacts ON users.id = contacts.user_2 WHERE user_1 = ' . $this->session->userdata('user_id'));
I typically use:
$id = $this->session->userdata('user_id');
then use $id in the query. Reads cleaner and on MySQL at least, if the query fails, it lists the value of $id. Never tried calling the session in the query before.